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Robots are invading NFL training camps.Actually, they are the love children of robots and tackling dummies, and they are not technological fads.The Pittsburgh Steelers, Los Angeles Rams and Baltimore Ravens have placed orders for a batch of Mobile Virtual Players for their camps later this month, according to MVP president John Currier. Each robot, costing about $8,000, weighs between 160 and 180 pounds, runs a 5-second 40-yard dash and cuts in the open field.In May, the Steelers showcased their experiment with the MVPs on their website, while the rival Ravens tested theirs in secret. The Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears also have inquired about using them in the future.What started as an experiment at Dartmouth College football practices to promote safe tackling is now a full-fledged business that is penetrating the highest levels of football.The NFLs flirtation with technology can be fickle. Remember the drone experiment? Exactly.This seems different, though. At the least, teams see functionality and the chance to rest players.They have a future, said one NFL assistant coach whose team has tested the robots. A few kinks to be worked out, but you can find ways to make them work for you.To separate gimmick from game-changer, lets dive into some questions about the robots and their viability at the NFL level. For guidance, we consulted the people from the MVP company and a few NFL observers who have tested the product.So what is it exactly?The MVP is a tackling dummy made of foam rubber thats controlled by a remote, which teams can operate. The engine, built into the base of the dummy, is protected by a cushion. It runs on two small skateboard-like wheels. The dummies birthplace is the Dartmouth campus in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dartmouth coach Buddy Teevens and former player Elliot Kastner were the catalysts for developing the technology. Now the dummies are manufactured at Rogers Athletic in Farwell, Michigan, and transported by truck to your NFL doorstep, usually two or three at a time.How did teams find out about this?Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stumbled across a YouTube video of the dummies and inquired about them to staffer Dan Rooney, who played quarterback for the Big Green. The Ravens declined comment on the MVPs, but word of mouth was spreading. Teevens first heard from now-49ers coach Chip Kelly about potentially using the robots over a year ago.Whats the appeal?The dummy is relatively easy to use and requires less manpower to run a practice. Most spring rosters are 90 players, and everyone can get more reps if the dummies are doing the dirty work, such as simulating scout-team formations. Picture a set screen play, with the defensive players taking their angles and the dummy streaking down the sideline. The dummy is perfect for such a noncontact setting, Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats said. It has good speed on it, so youre not running your players to death, Moats said. Youre not going to want to run that fast all practice. It saves players legs.But isnt the point of a tackling dummy for ... tackling?Yes. In fact, the Dartmouth staff implemented the use of the dummies mostly to eliminate helmet contact. Falcons media relations director Brian Cearns said his coach, Dan Quinn, is interested in using the robots for the same reason. The MVPs are forgiving but take a little force to move because of the weight, Teevens said.Where does concussion prevention come into play?Well, this area is harder to evaluate, because NFL teams dont hit much in practices anymore, and the dummies dont have sensors to track where on the body players routinely hit. Dartmouth is exploring the addition of accelerometers that would measure the magnitude of hits, Teevens said. But even with the base model, the concept of hitting a soft moving target could help mitigate potential damage. Medical science is becoming aware that [the brain disease] CTE is related to a history of many subconcussive hits and not just the bell-ringers that make the highlight reel, Currier said. Its that reduction -- hopefully near elimination -- of the repetitive, subconcussive hits in practice that may be the greatest contribution of MVP.Whats the downside?Once he got over the paranoia of rolling an ankle when tackling engine-powered machinery, Moats had one concern upon first glance -- the dummy cant truly simulate player movements and reactions of a shifty player. It looks different, feels different and isnt all that natural, Moats said. You know, a dummy is standing straight up -- a running back or receiver wont be standing that way, Moats said. So its not really a football play. They can advance the technology to simulate the real play, perhaps. So as far as straight line, its really good. Side to side is the issue.But problems can be fixed, right?Yep. The product can improve its authenticity on the field. It also has some goofy arms that can be attached to the sides with Velcro. After gathering feedback from the Steelers and Ravens, MVP transported its dummies to the Rogers lab for tweaks. MVP wants the dummies to maintain high-level speed while simulating open-field cuts. We want it to be evasive, Currier said. Thats part of its value. We want it to shift directly sideways for elusive purposes.What about quarterback play?If a coach is creative and wants to buy, say, 11 robots, perhaps he can disguise blitzes at the line of scrimmage to confuse a young quarterback in offseason work. That would require deft remote work from the sidelines, but thats sort of the point -- Tomlin says the experimental options are endless. You just really put it on the field and watch the guys and they show you the applications, he said. They say, Hey, get it to do this.Five years from now, will most teams be using these?We wont know that answer until after this years training camps, but heres what we do know: Teams are meticulous about player usage. Many teams track every step of practice. Now the dummies can do some of the running for you. Wholesale Panthers Jerseys . -- There were a lot of firsts for the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday night. Panthers Jerseys 2020 . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. https://www.panthersjerseycheap.com/ . Didier Drogba gave away the penalty that put Senegal one goal away from a major upset, but the veteran striker will get another chance -- probably his last -- at the World Cup after Salomon Kalous injury-time strike sealed the Ivorians place in Brazil next year. 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SAN DIEGO -- It could be a remarkable scene Sunday when the Oakland Raiders, closing in on their first playoff berth since their Super Bowl season of 2002, face a fading Chargers franchise that could be nearing the end of its 56-season run in San Diego.The Raiders (10-3), who have their own relocation saga brewing back home in Oakland, simply need to beat the Chargers (5-8) for the fourth straight time to clinch a playoff berth.Theyll be backed by thousands of their loyal fans, who could turn 70,000-seat Qualcomm Stadium into a sea of Silver and Black.The Raiders are looking to bounce back from a 21-13 loss in Kansas City that cost them the AFC West lead and, for the time being, a first-round playoff bye.Were looking forward to everything that we have in front of us, running back Latavius Murray said. Our goals, theyre still right in front of us. Thats how we re-focusing. We want to be playing postseason so we can give ourselves a chance to play for the big one. It starts Sunday.The Raiders can clinch a playoff spot on the same field where they were embarrassed in their previous postseason appearance, a 48-21 Super Bowl loss to Tampa Bay on Jan. 26, 2003.In their second year under coach Jack Del Rio, they finally have their first winning record since 2002.The Chargers, meanwhile, are in dismal decline, heading toward missing the playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons, and maybe headed toward a new home in Los Angeles.There have been games in the past few years in which the Chargers have felt as if they were the road team in their own stadium.Anticipating a pro-Raiders crowd Sunday, the Chargers practiced Wednesday with piped-in crowd noise, which they usually do only in preparation for road games.Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, coming off a five-turnover performance in a loss at Carolina, couldnt recall the team doing that before.Its just being aware of what its going to be like, said Rivers, who leads the NFL with 17 interceptions.Asked if he had a guess at the percentage of Raiders fans vs. Chargers fans will be, he said: Well find out. I have no expectations.Some things to look for in what could be the last time this rivalry dating to the birth of the AFL in 1960 is played in San Diego:STADIUM SAGAS: Raiders owner Mark Davis says hes committed to moving the team to Las Vegas, where a $1.9 billion stadium project has been approved, including $750 million in public money. Davis has from the end of the Raiders season until Feb. 15 to apply for relocation.Chargers chairman Dean Spanos, son of owner Alex Spanos, appears to be leaning toward moving to Los Angeles and eventually joining the Rams in a stadium in Inglewood scheduled to open in 2019.dddddddddddd Spanos efforts to land a large public subsidy to replace Qualcomm Stadium have failed. He angered the fan base last year with a failed attempt to move to Carson and share a stadium with the archrival Raiders.Spanos has said he wont announce a decision until after the season. The Chargers run in San Diego could end with their season finale on New Years Day.RESTART THE CARR: Raiders quarterback Derek Carr will try to bounce back from perhaps the worst game of his career. Carr went 17 for 41 for 117 yards in the 21-13 loss to the Chiefs, posting a career-low 49.1 rating. Carr has his second-lowest completion percentage in a game and set a worst with 2.85 yards per attempt. Carr has won his past three starts against the Chargers with six TD passes, two INTs and a 98.8 rating.It was just execution, Carr said. It was literally inches. There were a whole bunch of plays I think about that we always hit that for whatever reason, sometimes it was good feet and the route was good, and we just missed by an inch. Sometimes that happens in practice and you never want it to happen in games.SACK STREAK: Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack is on quite a roll when it comes to getting the quarterback. Mack has sacks in eight straight games, tying the franchise record set by Lance Johnstone in 1998. The previous NFL player with a sack in nine straight was Dwight Freeney, who did it in 2008-09. Mack leads the NFL with nine sacks overall during the streak. Mack has also managed to get the ball out when he records a sack with forced fumbles in three straight games and five of the past six.RUN TO DAYLIGHT: After being held to 86 yards on the ground during two wins against Houston and Carolina, the Raiders have found their running game in recent weeks. Oakland has rushed for 274 yards the past two games, led by Latavius Murray, who ran for 185 yards and three TDs in those games. Murray has run for 12 TDs already this season, tied for third most in franchise history, behind Marcus Allens 13 in 1984 and Pete Banaszaks 16 in 1975.CHARGERS WOES: Running back Melvin Gordon is expected to miss the game with a hip injury, and cornerback Brandon Flowers went on season-ending injured reserve with a concussion.---AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow in Oakland contributed.---Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '